My random thoughts

• 23Jul 08

  Soccer update

  So I figured it was time for a little update. I was going to combine this with some other stuff but i'm getting tired of typing. So look for another update later..

  1. Abby Wambach of the US Women's National team broke her left leg is the last "friendly" before the Olympics. She is the leading scorer on the team & a true leader on & off the field. It is going to be mighty difficult for the team without her. Yes, I think they have a legitmate chance at winning gold, but it is going to be much more difficult. Players like Kai & Rodriguez are going to have to step up and shine. The loss of Wambach is a great opportunity for this team to show the world what they are made of. To answer a question about whether or not I think the drama of the world cup could continue this year, posted in an earlier blog. Honestly I don't really see there being much drama this year. They fired Greg Ryan who was the coach that made the goal-tending change & they hired Pia Sundhage (former Swedish national player & coach) Pia kept Hope Solo on the roster & didn't include Briana Scurry. So therefore I see no goal-tending drama coming. Really the only possibility for drama would be if Pia makes the wrong choices as to how to change the lineup & style since Wambach is out. & even if that happens, I can't see the press or anyone for that matter putting much blame on her. Playing without Abby is something that the team has never had to do, so no one will blame Pia if she makes the wrong decision in this case.

  2. In sports today it is very difficult to find good role models. In fact I can count them on one hand. Well, Abby Wambach is one of those. I've been a fan of Wambach's for a few years now & I must say I was truly impressed and inspired by the way she handled herself after the injury. To see the injury & the poise of Abby here is a video link. Abby had successful surgery & is on the road to recovery. Doctors say it will be about a 12 week recovery process. Here are some quotes from Abby after her surgery...the full quote sheet can be found on ussoccer.com.

  On her immediate thoughts after breaking her leg:
  "I realized in that moment and accepted in that moment that my Olympic dreams were not going to be what I had planned. I accepted the reality of this situation. This was a deep down acceptance of my reality. A lot of the times when you freak out about stuff is when you are more unsure of reality. It was an all encompassing moment. I wasn't freaked out."

  On her calm demeanor as she was being carted off the field:
  "A lot has to do with my experience with this team and my competitiveness. I surely didn't want to affect the competitiveness on the field. I know what it takes to win a gold medal and I know that one person isn't going to be the answer. I want to set the example for my teammates, to see on my face, that whether or not I'm on the field no matter who it is we're playing, that we can win on any given day. I accepted that I knew what was going on. I guess I am proud of the way I reacted because it was truly the way I felt. I was only scared because I had never experienced that before or ridden in an ambulance. The most important thing at that moment was winning the game and showing my teammates by example that they have to lean on each other a little bit more to get that gold medal that we've been desperately training for over the months."

  Her thoughts on the injury and looking back over the past few days:
  "It made me realize even more how insignificant one player is in a team environment. It really does take a team to win a championship. I can't express my thanks enough to the outreach from people from all different walks of life. I am really appreciative of the support that I have, the country that I represent, and I am proud of my teammates. This is kind of an occupational hazard and we all take the risk, knowing that this is possible every time we step onto the field. That's sports. It's the risk you take when you lace up your boots. I play one way and there's no other way to explain it. I'm not going to take it easy just because it's the last game before the Olympics."

  On her comeback from the serious injury and if it can inspire others:
  "There's no question of whether or not I'll come back from this, it's more when I'll come back. Will it take a lot of hard work and dedication, pain and suffering? Probably. But do I think about the type of role model that I can be to someone who is going through the same thing? Absolutely. We aren't on the planet alone and whether people like to admit it or not, all we can do is learn from each other in the course of a lifetime. I sometimes struggle because I don't find myself inspiring, because it's just me, in my own skin. If people feel like that, then let's use this as another experience to give them a gauge in how to react in tough situations, give them a platform as a possibility. Anytime you can learn from something. What I want the younger generation to feel and see from this, first and foremost, is that I'm coming back from this."

  • Posted Jul 23, 2008 10:46 am GMT
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• 24Jun 08

  US Women's Soccer Olympic Squad Named

  

  The squad is pretty much what I had expected. However I am quite surprised that veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry was left off the Olympic roster. For those of you that followed last years Women's World Cup you may recall the controversy among the US goalkeepers. Head Coach at the time, Greg Ryan choose to play Scurry over the starter Solo against Brazil. The United States lost and Solo let the world know that she was not happy. Well Greg Ryan and Briana Scurry are now out and Pia Sundhage and Hope Solo are now in. The United States will be without the services of Defender Cat Whitehill & Midfielder Leslie Osborne who both tore their acl's just 19 days apart. The loss of these two veterans did put a hole in the US lineup...but it's nothing they can't overcome. Cant' wait for the olympics to start!

  • Posted Jun 24, 2008 12:08 pm GMT
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• 31May 08

  Lesbian Kiss Too Much for Seattle Fans.

  So I was tuned into a local talk radio station when this lesbian kiss was brought up as the topic of the hour. Apparently a lesbian couple kissed at a Seattle Mariners baseball game and someone complained about it. Then Mariners personnel told the couple that they could either stop or leave the ballpark. The Seattle Mariners play their home games at Safeco field and that is where the incident took place. Safeco is investigating the incident but their code of conduct states; "staff will proactively intervene to support an environment where guests can enjoy the Safeco Field experience free from unacceptable behavior, including ... displays of affection not appropriate in a family setting." If anyone reading this has attended a professional sporting event in the United States you most likely have seen the "kiss cam" For those of you that don't know, the kiss cam puts heterosexual couples pictures on the jumbotron for them to kiss in front of the entire stadium. The Seattle Mariners and Safeco field have the "kiss cam" The couple has filed a lawsuit saying that they were discriminated against because of their sexuality. A link to the story

  Now, for my two cents. First of all I realize that some people have very strong views towards homosexuality. I believe that everyone has the right to have their own opinion and I respect that. However, I ask that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. I'm not trying to stir up a huge debate here, I just need to get some of this off my chest.

  I personally have no problem with gay and lesbian people. I believe that we are all equal. I don't care if guys love girls, if guys love guys, or girls love girls. Love is love in my eyes. With that being said, a lot of people in America don't share this same view. There are a lot of people that look very negatively towards homosexuality. So, I can't say that I was in any way surprised when I heard that the couple was asked to either stop kissing or leave. Should they have been kissing in the ballpark? No and neither should a heterosexual couple either, but it happens all the time. If they don't want "public displays of affection" then why have the kiss cam? (I've always felt that the kiss cam was very stupid.) Bottom line I think there is a time and place for everything and I don't think anyone should be kissing anyone, gay or straight, at the ballpark. Watch the damn game!

  I must admit though that the callers into this radio show were driving me nuts! Yes, I know we all have the right to our own opinions but sometimes I just can't take it. Numerous callers stated that such acts are disgusting and "wrong" and they wouldn't want their children around it. and they also wouldn't want to have to explain to their children about homosexuality. News flash parents: don't let your kids watch television then cause they will see things 100x worse on tv. Why, why are we so worried about a couple, that loves each other kissing? WHO CARES!! I'm heterosexual and I don't give a damn if two chicks want to kiss each other. Why does everyone else think that it is so disgusting and they are going to burn in hell for it? First of all, the whole religious aspect of homosexuality 'grinds my gears.' I'm Roman Catholic. For those of you that don't know the Roman Catholic Church has very strict views on homosexuality. They admit that homosexuality is something that you are born with and they don't really have a problem with it. However, they say that homosexuals are to abstain from acting on those sexual feelings. In the same way that priest do. Okay, the Catholic Church can say what it wants, i don't really care. But, for people to say the homosexual's are going to burn in hell is quite ridiculous. Simply because, who are you to say that. You're not God. Ultimately only God makes those decisions.

  Really my whole point here is to not judge people. You may or may not agree with homosexuality but let them live their lives. No one is perfect, so we really don't have the right to judge anyone else.

  That is all I have for now. I'm sure this is probably poorly written but it is 2am so cut me a little slack I would appreciate comments on this topic. I will probably be posting another related blog sometime in the near future so I will respond to your comments then.

  • Posted May 31, 2008 12:00 am GMT
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